In This Issue

Disputing Feinberg Gulf Restoration Financial Briefing Gulf Coast Leadership Summit Our Solutions for Success Testimonial Greetings!

Volume I June 2011

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Welcome to the inaugural newsletter of the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum, a new independent organization dedicated to empowering a healthy and economically vibrant U.S. Gulf Coast! Each issue of the newsletter will provide you with Gulf Coast news, our accomplishments, and our plans for the future. Please send us your comments and feedback so we can grow together!

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Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Disputes Feinberg Claims That There Are No Health Problems From Oil Spill
New Orleans - June 8, 2011. The Gulf Coast Leadership Forum is disputing assertions from Gulf Coast Claims Facility Czar Kenneth Feinberg that Gulf Coast residents are not experiencing medical difficulties from last year's BP oil spill and the subsequent use of toxic dispersants.

Meet The Staff

Featured Audio GOOD NEWS WWNO - NPR Radio Link

One Senator's Plan

Kenneth Feinberg

On Monday, Feinberg told Louisiana lawmakers that he hasn't seen any medical linkage of the oil and dispersants and health problems. "This assertion is nonsense," said Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Chairman William Loiry. "Medical evidence from Florida to Texas indicates that at least 100,000 Americans are suffering health problems as a result of the oil spill and the toxic dispersants. The number could be much higher. This is a national tragedy which must be addressed openly and truthfully." Feinberg was a featured speaker at the Gulf Coast Leadership Summit in April, convened by the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum. The Summit included general sessions on Gulf Coast health and the environment as well as a general session on the concerns of Gulf Coast residents. Numerous Gulf Coast residents spoke about their medical difficulties arising from the oil spill and dispersants and told Feinberg during the Summit's concluding General Session about their health problems. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum to help it provide training to doctors and medical facilities throughout the Gulf Coast to respond to the increasing oil-related medical crisis. In addition, the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum will be organizing a major conference on the Gulf Coast health crisis and is working with Silicon Valley to develop a database to track individual medical cases related to the oil and dispersants.

Senator Mary Landrieu Wants Nonprofits in BP Claims Process Hearings For Health, Complaints From Spill

Coastal Briefing

Briefing Highlights $1 Billion for Coastal Restoration

Responding to BP's $1 billion contribution for coastal restoration, the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum convened the Coastal Restoration Financing Briefing on May 10, 2011 at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Dr. Robert Thomas of Loyola Seved as Moderator

Dr. Alyssa Dausman, representing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, provided an overview of new coastal restoration programs and financing. St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro provided the Keynote Address. And Dr. Robert Thomas, Director of Loyola University's Center for Environmental Communication, served as moderator. Other speakers included Mark Wingate from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Windell Curole, Executive Director, South Lafourche Levee District; Trudy Fisher, Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Keith Wilkins, Deputy Bureau Chief, Community & Environment Bureau, Escambia County, Florida; Nicholas Matherne, Director, Office of Coastal Restoration & Preservation, Terrebonne Parish; Charles E. Allen, III, Director, Coastal and Environmental Affairs, City of New Orleans; Marnie Winter, Director, Environmental Affairs, Jefferson Parish; John Lopez, Acting Director, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation; and David Doss, State Director for U.S. Senator David Vitter. Attorney Daniel E. Becnel, Jr. announced that his firm is providing free services to help companies and organizations win coastal restoration contracts.

Attorney Daniel Becnel Offers Free Legal Services

Success of Gulf Coast Leadership Summit

Dr. Alyssa Dausman on behalf of EPA's Gulf Coast Ecosystem Task Force The inaugural Gulf Coast Leadership Summit, held April 18 21, 2011 in New Orleans, provided an invaluable service to New Orleans and residents of the U.S. Gulf Coast: The Summit brought together hundreds of business, government, nonprofit, and community leaders to discuss specific strategies to empower a healthy and economically vibrant Gulf Coast. Senator Bob Graham and Members of the National Oil Spill Commission pushed for implementation of regulations which would help prevent another oil spill disaster. Ken Feinberg promised nonprofit organizations that he would look into reimbursing them for services rendered to Gulf Coast residents affected by the oil spill. Senator Mary Landrieu promised Gulf Coast residents that she would make their oil spill-related health concerns a major priority. And Senator Landrieu used the Summit's Concluding General Session to announce BP's $1 billion contribution for Gulf Coast coastal recovery. More than 700 leaders and residents participated in the various events of the Summit, which included numerous general sessions, a town hall meeting, press conferences and interviews, networking events, receptions, and a solutions expo. Dozens of speakers made powerful presentations on a wide range of Gulf Coast topics, including pending oil spill regulations, the impact of the oil spill on communities, speeding the oil spill compensation process, health

Dr. Charles Allen, III

Executive Director Mandi Thompson Discusses GCLF Initiatives

St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro Provides Keynote Address

Leadership Summit 2011

Billy Nungesser Plaquemines Parish President

perspectives, environmental and coastal restoration, clean energy, and economic development. Speakers included Senator Bob Graham, Co-Chairman of the National Oil Spill Commission; U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu; U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond; U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise; Gulf Coast Claims Facility Administrator Kenneth Feinberg; attorney Daniel E. Becnel, Jr.; Louisiana State Senator A.G. Crowe; Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser; Jefferson Parish President John Young; Orange Beach, Alabama Mayor Tony Kennon; Escambia County, Florida Commissioner Grover Robinson; Entergy CEO Charles Rice; Alabama Coastal Recovery Commission Chairman Ricky Mathews; Gulf Restoration Network Executive Director Cynthia Sarthou; LSU School of Pubic Health Dean Elizabeth Fontham; and dozens of other leaders. Local, regional, national, and international media coverage of the Summit was substantial.

Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Initiatives

Our Solutions for a Successful Future
Cynthia Sartou, GRN, Presents at the Summit What the Gulf Coast Leadership Forum does is empower a healthy and economically vibrant U.S. Gulf Coast. We facilitate solutions. Our solutions for success include:

Congressman Joseph Cao at VIP Reception

Making the Gulf Coast health crisis a national priority, so that sick Americans can get the medical help they deserve. Emphasizing the recommendations of the National Oil Spill Commission, so that we do not repeat the BP oil disaster. Facilitating strategies to protect the Gulf Coast from future man-made and natural disasters. Helping companies and organizations win coastal restoration contracts. Creating new jobs by empowering new Gulf Coast industries, such as clean energy

David Freedman Addresses Summit

Testimonial:
"If the purpose of the Gulf Coast Leadership Summit was to be the premier event of the first anniversary of the Macondo tragedy, then you have exceeded your aspirations. It was attended by the people most involved, focused their attention on not just the event itself, but what steps are needed to mitigate a repetition, and was engaging for all. Congratulations." Senator Bob Graham Co-Chairman National Oil Spill Commission April 22, 2011

Dr. Wilma Su bra talks Healthcare at the summit

Chairman William Loiry with Summit Keynote Speaker Senator Bob Graham

William Loiry with friends

Empowering a healthy and economically vibrant Gulf Coast. Sincerely,

William Loiry Chairman Gulf Coast Leadership Forum Click image for more about Bill Loiry

Mandi Thompson Executive Director Gulf Coast Leadership Forum (504) 322 - 3568 Gulf Coast Office Click image for more about Mandi Thompson